Override (Glitch)

away so that his lips barely nipped mine in a way that made me crazy. I’d chase his lips back with mine, and suddenly he’d stop and kiss me so deeply again it seemed to sear straight down to my stomach.
    I gasped at the intensity of it. We’d kissed before, but it had been nothing like this.
    He pushed me up against the wall, his hand sliding down my hip. A soft moan escaped my lips.
    “Shh, we have to be quiet,” he laughed into my ear, before kissing down my neck. He slid one bra strap to the side and kept kissing down my shoulder. I trembled.
    Slowly, he led me to the mat on the ground, pulling me down beside him. I was all heat and sensation, deepened by the hum of my power tingling just beneath my skin. He nudged me over as one knee swung over mine, and then he hovered above me, before dipping down and sucking on my neck until I felt like I was going to erupt and light us both on fire.
    He paused for a moment, and even though the alcove was shadowed, I could still see the glint of his eyes reflecting some bits of light from the main room.
    I put my hand on the back of his neck and pulled him nearer, so eager to close the final space between us. “I love you, Adrien. Adrien, Adrien.” I said it languorously, delighted by the feeling that stirred within me at just the sound of his name.
    He stiffened in my arms. I smiled and tried to pull him closer, but he didn’t budge.
    “Adrien?” My voice was small in the dark room. I couldn’t see his face to tell whether he’d seen another vision, or if the weight of the world had suddenly secured itself back on his shoulders.
    He swore under his breath, jumping back to his feet. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
    I sat up, all the wonderful feelings dissipating as if cold water had been thrown on me. I covered up my chest awkwardly. “But what—”
    “I’m sorry,” he said, still not looking at me. “I’ve gotta go.”
    “Wait!” I scrambled up.
    But he’d already left. Just like that. The door slid shut behind him and I sat, pained and bewildered, clutching my top to my chest.

Chapter 22
    THE NEXT MORNING Adrien wasn’t at training. Rand mentioned he’d gone to spend the morning at the security hub. That was just fine with me. I didn’t know if I could face him. I felt embarrassed and confused, but, more than anything, I felt angry. I was getting tired of being shut out. A relationship was supposed to work both ways.
    When I walked into the Gifted training class, he was already there, sitting on a mat with his eyes closed. My anger roared to life. I sat down on the mat farthest away from him and glared, hoping he could feel the fury pulsing off me in invisible waves.
    He looked miserable. There were dark circles under his closed eyes. His strong broad chest rose and fell softly with each breath, and his hands rested open on his knees. The aching hurt rose up all over again. In spite of myself, I felt my heart stretch in my chest for him. But he’d rejected me without even a word of explanation. I couldn’t let go of the hurt yet.
    I settled into a spot on the floor and tried to still the squirming thoughts in my head. I could only manage a few moments of focus at a time.
    The door opened suddenly. General Taylor stormed in with the ex-Regs and a half-squadron of Rez fighters behind her. I stared at her in confusion.
    “What’s going on?” City asked. We all stood up.
    “Get her!” Taylor yelled, her face a mask of focused intent. She was looking right in my direction.
    “What—” I started to ask, but then she strode right past me.
    I swung around and my heart dropped when I saw where they were headed.
    Saminsa.
    Wytt reached out his metal-infused hand toward Saminsa’s shoulder.
    “No!” she shouted, a blue orb immediately bursting to life around her. Wytt pulled his hand away. He stumbled backwards, looking back and forth between his hand and the orb in confusion. I followed his gaze and my stomach lurched when I saw four of his fingers lying inside the orb. They’d been sliced right off. Blood dripped from Wytt’s hanging hand.
    “Stay back!” Saminsa yelled. Between the shock of everything that was happening, I realized in a moment of absurdity that this was the first time I’d ever heard the girl’s voice.
    General Taylor advanced forward. “You’re surrounded! There’s nowhere to go. Did you really think we wouldn’t catch you sneaking into the security hub and trying to send a transmission to the Chancellor